Searching for the right balance between the highs and lows of diabetes

Here’s to the Heroes.

At the Diabetes UnConference, there’s a term we use for the people who share our lives with diabetes, but who don’t actually live with diabetes themselves. We call them People who Love Us, or PLUs.

Where would we be without them?

Diabetes, at its best moments, requires us to perform a number of tasks and stay on top of a number of factors throughout the day, every single day. It can seem overwhelming at times. How wonderful it is to know that someone has the patience to allow us to handle things despite the moments where things don’t turn out so well.

Diabetes forces us to confront realities that others never have to deal with. Hypoglycemia, diabetic ketoacidosis, and words associated with complications and co-morbidities are constantly in the back of our minds. It means more than I can tell you to have someone to talk to about it.

There are parents and spouses and siblings who help fundraise for cures and research toward better technology and treatment for everyone living with diabetes. They give of their time and treasure to support us. It’s hard to find a way to define love in stronger terms.

Heck, what about the parents who took care their kids every night while they grew up and never stopped caring for them after they’d moved away? And the brothers and sisters who’ve also shown patience, who’ve shared, and treated their siblings like they’re worth every extra effort?

And our friends who’ve hung with us through the best of times and the worst of times. Those friends who don’t abandon you when you’re down and are proud to be your rock when everything around you turns to sand.

There are a number of places where the impact of those who love us weaves through our lives with diabetes. It’s impossible to overstate our gratitude for everything you’ve provided, every adjustment you’ve had to make, and every fight you’ve fought on behalf of all of us. So…

Here’s to the Heroes.

Part cheerleader, part confidant, part warrior. If it weren’t for you, we might still be here. But probably not as well as we are today, even if we’re not so well anyway. Probably not so happy, though we may already know some happiness. Probably not so strong, because in many ways, you’ve allowed us to draw our strength from you.

A Disclaimer

I have no medical training. If you consider anything written here as medical, legal, financial, or any other kind of advice, you’re out of your mind. Please speak to a learned professional before making any changes that might affect your health. Any of the original content found on this site is my property and should not be reproduced, copied, or otherwise used without the author’s expressed written consent.